Hawaii State Insect

Kamehameha Butterfly in North Maui, ; photo by LazyLibrarian on Flickr
(noncommercial use permitted with attribution). See All State Insects.

Pulelehua (Kamehameha Butterfly)

Hawaii designated pulelehua, also known as the kamehameha butterfly (Vanessa tameamea) as the official state insect in 2009. The kamehameha is one of only two native butterfly species in Hawaii.

Giant sign on building in Waimea, Big Island - Koa butterfly on left, Kamehameha butterfly on right; photo by Forest Starr and Kim Starr on Flickr (use permitted with attribution). See All State Insects.